by York County, PA — A Pennsylvania landlord who admitted to neighbors that he beat his tenant during a drunken altercation has been sentenced to prison after the victim later died from his injuries.
Landlord Pleads No Contest in Tenant’s Death
According to Northern York County Regional Police, 37-year-old Zachary Neiman pleaded no contest to third-degree murder in connection with the death of his tenant, 42-year-old Michael Byers, who lived in a detached apartment on Neiman’s property.
Court records show that Neiman was sentenced on Oct. 27 to 8 to 16 years in prison as part of a plea deal that dropped a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
A Night of Drinking Turns Deadly
Investigators said the fatal incident occurred on April 29, 2023, when Neiman and Byers were drinking together at a firepit on Neiman’s property. Neighbors told police they overheard a heated argument around 10 p.m., followed by loud noises that sounded like a physical assault.
According to court documents obtained by ABC affiliate news outlet, Neiman later approached neighbors and said, “I just beat the s— out of Mike.”
Witnesses told police they could still hear sounds of Neiman continuing to assault Byers after that encounter.
Victim Found Dead the Next Morning
Neiman called 911 early the next morning, telling dispatchers that he had discovered Byers’ body outside the home. When first responders arrived, they found Byers lying in the yard wearing only shorts and covered in mud.
Police said Neiman was performing chest compressions when they arrived but that Byers was already cold to the touch.
Neiman told officers that he couldn’t remember what happened because of how much he drank that night and claimed he went to bed around 11:30 p.m.
Cause of Death and Sentencing
An autopsy determined that Byers died from blunt-force injuries complicated by ethanol intoxication.
Neiman was later charged in November 2023 with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, though only the murder charge moved forward under the plea agreement.
The York County Court described the case as a tragic outcome of alcohol-fueled violence, emphasizing that Neiman’s actions directly led to Byers’ death despite his claims of memory loss.
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Community Reacts to Shocking Crime
Neighbors described the two men as occasional drinking companions who often socialized near the firepit but said they had never seen such aggression between them before that night.
The case has since drawn attention to the dangers of heavy drinking and uncontrolled anger, particularly in isolated settings like rural rental properties.
What’s your take on the sentence handed down in this case? Do you think justice was served? Share your thoughts in the comments at mikeandjonpodcast.com.
